Evaluation of the Effect of Sociodemographic Characteristics of Patients with Prostate Cancer on Their Sexual Experiences and Self-Efficacy: Sexual Experiences and Self-Efficacy of Individuals with Prostate Cancer

The study was planned as a descriptive study to evaluate the effects of sociodemographic characteristics of prostate cancer patients on their sexual experiences and self-efficacy. The sample of the study consisted of 69 patients with prostate cancer who were followed up for treatment in the outpatient clinic of an oncology hospital between December 2020 and March 2021 and met the inclusion criteria of the stud. Research data were collected by using the Patient Information Form, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX)-Male, and Sexual Self-Efficacy Scale (SSES). The mean age of prostate cancer patients was 67.1 ± 11.74 years, 95.7% (n = 66) were married, 37.7% (n = 66) were university graduates, and 75.4% (n = 52) were unemployed. Patients’ mean scores were 19.29 ± 7.66 on the total Sexual Self-Efficacy Scale and 22.08 ± 4.92 on the total Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale. In the study, it was determined that the sexual experiences and sexual self-efficacy of prostate cancer patients differed according to their education level, employment status, and duration of treatment. In the study, it was determined that patients with prostate cancer experienced sexual dysfunction and had low self-efficacy. In line with these results, our recommendations are for health professionals to evaluate the sexual functions of patients with prostate cancer and their sexual self-efficacy, which is an important determinant of sexual life, during the diagnosis, treatment, and care process. In addition, the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients should be considered when planning interventions that increase sexual self-efficacy in the management of sexual problems.